Eugene "Gene" Oates
passed away peacefully on May 18, 2019.
Gene was born in
McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on March 2, 1933, to Eugene Francis and Margaret (Ohler)
Oates, who preceded him in death.
He was also
preceded in death by his wife of many wonderful years, Vivian (Dye) Oates;
his son, William "Billy" Oates; and his siblings: Thomas, Robert, and
Richard Oates.
Gene is survived by
his brother, Paul (Kathy) Oates; his sisters-in-law: Maxine Oates and
Christa Oates; and his children: Tom (Anne) Groark, Kenny (Peggy) Groark and
Terry (Jim) Wuletich. He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren for
whom he was "Pap": April (David) Sitzenstock, Melanie Pancek, Kenny Groark,
Tonya Groark, Christopher Groark, Samantha (Aaron Johnson) Wuletich, and
Steven Wuletich, along with his great-grandchildren, Taylor Guse, and Logan
Pancek, in addition to many other loving relatives.
Gene graduated from
Wirt High School in 1951 and served in the US Army until 1955, where he
received the Army of Occupation Medal and the National Defense Service
Medal. After his service, he earned a degree in business management from
Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!) and then worked as a supervisor for US
Steel until his retirement. Gene spent his retirement years wintering in
Florida with Vivian, and spending time with his family and on the golf
course, where he made eight holes-in-one!
A memorial service
will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., at Edmonds & Evans
Funeral Home, 517 Broadway, Chesterton, IN 46304.
Visitation will be
held on May 29, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. until time of service at 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers,
the family requests that you please consider a donation to Dunes Hospice,
whose staff showed every kindness to Gene in his final months.